License Plate Requirements and Types

Most vehicles in Minnesota must have license plates, including passenger vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, and vans.

Most vehicles will be issued 2 license plates. Motorcycles, trailers, mopeds and dealer or dealer in transit vehicles only need 1 license plate. Minnesota
Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) will issue the required number of plates for your vehicle.

Your license plate will have stickers that show the month and year your vehicle registration expires.

If you move to another state, you
DO NOT need to surrender your MN license plates. However, you may need to surrender your plates if you would like a new plate design or plate type.

Fees for Minnesota License Plates

The license plate fees below DO NOT include taxes, title fees, or other registration fees which may apply for certain transactions.

New standard plates AND plate renewal:

2 license plates: $6.

1 license plate: $4.50.

Registration renewal filing fee: $6.

Replacements:

Filing fee for all applications: $10.

2 license plates: $6.

1 license plate: $4.50.

Decal: $1.

Transfer fee: Varies by plate type.

Lookup License Plates

In Minnesota, you CANNOT search for personalized license plate numbers or run the license plate of someone else’s vehicle.

You CAN:

Review the MN DVS guidelines for vanity plates to learn more about personalized plate combinations.

Use the online registration search to check your own registration status using your license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN).

Specialty License Plates

Personalized Plates

For personalized or so-called "vanity" license plates in Minnesota, motorists must apply at a deputy registrar office
location, or send an Application for Special Plates (Form PS2010), to the following address, along with the appropriate fees of $100 for initial application, and the $10 filing fee:

Driver and Vehicle Services

445 Minnesota St., Suite 164

St Paul, MN 55101

All license plates, except standard Minnesota plates, are issued out of the central office.

Personalized plate applicants in Minnesota must follow these guidelines, as outlined on the state's
special plates page:

The total number of characters on a passenger vehicle's personalized plate must not exceed 7 characters, including hyphens and spaces

The total number of characters on other personalized plates must not exceed 6 characters, including hyphens and spaces

Antique Plates

Minnesota divides this category into the following plates: Pioneer, Classic, Collector, and Street Rod. Each one can be applied for by completing an
Application for Special Plates (Form PS2010).

Pioneer Plates

Any vehicle manufactured before 1936 and retained as a collector's item can display these plates.

Classic Plates

These plates can be displayed on any vehicle manufactured from 1925 to 1948 that's deemed a classic car by the registrar of motor vehicles. The criteria for this designation includes superior workmanship, design, elite engineering standards, and proof the vehicle is only used as a collector's item.

Collector Plates

Any vehicle that's at least 20 model years old, providing you, the owner, also have at least one other vehicle registered in Minnesota.

Specialty Plates

The official Minnesota
DVS website lists a variety of different license plates offered. The plate types, which are also described online, are as follows: